Cliff Creek (Tulare County)
| Cliff Creek | |
|---|---|
 Cliff Creek running low through its granite streambed during an extreme drought in the Sierra Nevada (June 17th, 2021) | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Tulare County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Columbine Lake |
| • location | Sequoia National Park |
| • coordinates | 36°27′51″N 118°33′03″W / 36.46417°N 118.55083°W |
| Length | 8.5 miles (13.68 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Columbine Lake → Middle Fork Kaweah River → Kaweah River → Tulare Lake |
| River system | Kaweah River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Timber Gap Creek |
Cliff Creek is an 8.5 mile (13.68 km) long creek in Tulare County, California in Sequoia National Park. It is a major tributary of the Middle Fork Kaweah River and has its source high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.[1]
Course[edit]
It begins high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an elevation of 10,944 feet (3336 m) at Columbine lake on the eastern side of Sawtooth mountain. It descends to Cyclamen lake via a cataract and from there travels over another waterfall into nearby Spring lake.[2] After exiting Spring lake, Cliff Creek begins its long and steep descent southwestward to its confluence with the Middle Fork Kaweah river, over 6,000 feet below. Pinto Lake, a small pond in a large meadow, feeds Cliff Creek in the upper part of its canyon.
Its course is defined by wet meadows, large waterfalls and subalpine conifer forests.
In most years, Cliff Creek is a swift and deep stream that can be treacherous to backpackers without proper precautions.
Geography[edit]
Cliff Creek is entirely contained within Sequoia National Park. It is paralleled by backpacking trails between the middle fork canyon and the divide between the Kern and Kaweah rivers at Blackrock Pass, as well as the nearby Mineral King valley.
There are a number of backpacking campsites of various qualities along Cliff Creek.[3]
The upper section of the Cliff Creek watershed was photographed by Ansel Adams in 1920, in his piece titled Cliff Creek Canyon
Ecology[edit]
Cliff Creek flows through a number of different ecosystems on its 7,000 foot descent through the Sierra Nevada. Starting in a barren alpine lake, it descends through the subalpine and montane zones, eventually joining with the Kaweah river in a montane California woodlands biome.[4]
Besides providing water for local wildlife including American black bears, Cougars, California mule deer and red fox, Cliff Creek provides habitat for Kern River rainbow trout and Brook trout, planted in the high Sierra for sporting purposes in historic times.
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ "Cliff Creek Lakes". www.sierrahiker.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ Turner, Scott (2017-07-10). "Five Lakes Basins". Modern Hiker. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ Rivers, Mailing Address: 47050 Generals Highway Three; Us, CA 93271 Phone: 559 565-3341 Contact. "Rivers, Snow, and Hydrology - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
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